Green: Panel favored Rangel reprimand

The ethics subcommittee investigating Rep. Charles Rangel was only going to recommend a reprimand against the New York Democrat — a lesser punishment than a formal House censure or expulsion from the House for Rangel’s alleged ethics violations.

Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas), who led the investigation, told reporters Friday his four-member panel agreed on a reprimand, believing that would be the appropriate punishment for Rangel.

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"The recommendation we had was a reprimand," Green said. "I'll let the full [ethics] committee make that decision."

But several hours after those initial comments, Green told reporters that the investigative subcommittee did not have the power to make sanction recommendations for Rangel.

"I found out that wasn't our authority," Green said.

Green also made clear that Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), the chairwoman of the full ethics committee, wasn't pleased with his previous comments. Lofgren will be overseeing the Rangel ethics trial.

"I called her and did penance," Green said.

The full House would still have to vote for a reprimand for Rangel if the panel did recommend one, but with the ethics “trial” now going forward and lasting into the fall, it’s not clear what the newly formed adjudicatory committee will decide in terms of punishing Rangel — if it reaches any conclusion at all.

"At different times there were offers from both sides," Green said in his initial remarks Friday, but added that the four members of the investigative subcommittee — who would have authority over a Rangel deal before the trial started — did not review settlement offers from Rangel and ethics committee staff.

"They did not come to the four members of the subcommittee," Green said.

Green told reporters that "some of the counts were not unanimous," but that the vote on the final report —known as a "Statement of Alleged Violation" — was backed by all four members. The Texas Democrat said he "did not remember" which counts failed to win unanimous support."

On Thursday, Green’s subcommittee released a 40-page document listing 13 ethics charges against Rangel, who has been accused of violating a wide range of financial disclosure, fundraising and House code of conduct rules.

Green discounted reports that there was any deal with Rangel leading up to Thursday’s unveiling of the charges. Green said there was never any settlement document shown to the ethics investigators.

"There were other issues" that led to a breakdown in settlement talks between Rangel and the ethics investigators, Green added.

Green would not elaborate on that issue, but Rangel and his attorneys have been concerned that if the New York Democrat pleaded to intentionally violating ethics rules for personal gain, it could expose him to other legal problems.